Page Type: languageTakuu | Ethnologue

NHO ISO 639-3

Takuu

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639
nho
Alternate Names
Mortlock, Taku, Tau, Tauu
Population
1,750 (Moesinger 2018). 320 on Takuu atoll. 100 monolinguals.
Location:
Bougainville province: Atolls district, northeast of Bougainville, Mortlock village, Takuu atoll; scattered, especially on mainland Papua New Guinea.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Ellicean
Dialects
None known. Distinct from Nukumanu [nuq] and Nukuria [nur] and Ontong Java [ojv] and Sikaiana [sky] in Solomon Islands, though very closely related.
Typology
SVO; prepositions; tense and aspect; 18 consonant and 10 vowel phonemes; geminate consonants; dual number; inclusive/exclusive pronouns.
Language Use
Not endangered (2000 D. Tryon). Most domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use Tok Pisin [tpi] (Moyle 2011).
Language Development
Taught in primary schools. Literature. Videos. Dictionary. NT: 2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Takuu
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Bougainville province: Atolls district, northeast of Bougainville, Mortlock village, Takuu atoll; scattered, especially on mainland Papua New Guinea.